Can opener



Jan. 25, 1944. R, WALLEQ 2,339,824

CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 29, 1942 a ywam I 80567732 Maize?" Patented Jan. 25, 1944 can ornNEn Robert 11. Wallet, Nashville, Tenn.

Application August 29, 1942, Serial No. 456,683

1 Claim. (01. 30-15) This invention relates to a can'opener, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind wherein the various parts are so constructed and assembled as to provide an opener which will not bind or lock when in use and also wherein the assembly is such as to permit the device to be made of a size to be readily carried in the pocket of a garment.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device 'of this kind including a cutting element, together with means to provide strong leverage toeflect the initial penetration of the can lid byv the cutting element.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind constructed in such a manner that when in working engagement'with the can, the traction wheel comprised in the device will be prevented from scraping the periphery of the side wall of the can, with the ultimate resultant hindrance or obstruction to the desired free rotation of the traction wheel.

, An additional object of the invention is to provide a can opener wherein is comprised a frame or plate carrying a cutting element, together with a traction wheel rotatably supported by a lever in pivotal engagement with the frame or plate, whereby in the initial setting of the device upon the can to be opened, sufilcient leverage may be readily had to cause the cutting element to initially penetrate the lid.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved can opener, whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. a

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyin drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a can opener constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, a secondposition of certain of the parts being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the device as illustrated in mire 1.

, lever l, isspherical of is provided with an outstanding extension or elongated arm formedto provide a handgrasp fixed with respect to the frame or plate I.

' The lower or apex portion of the frame or plate I has disposed therethrough a headed shank '3 which provides a pivotal mounting for one portion of an elongated swinging lever I. The head 5 of this shank 3, which is arranged in form and of material diameter and serves to provide a guide for direct 'contact'with the side or peripheral wall 6 of a can 0 for a purpose to be hereinafter more partlcularly referred to.

The lever l is of a length suilicient to extend beyond the outer or rounded end portion of the frame or plate I and said extended portion is formed to provide a hand grasp I. The end portion of the shank 3 remote from the head 5 is upset, as at I, whereby the in desired applied position.

The lever l is immediately adjacent to a face of the frame or plate I but is free to swing thereacross. The outward swinging movement, how- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line |-4 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment of the invention as illus-- trated in the accompanying drawing, I denotes a frame or plate ofdesired and of the form of a sector of a circle. The frame or plate I at one extremity of the upper or wide end therethrough the disk I! andthe coaction between the tang andthe disk ltissuchthatthe same roever, of the lever lis limited by contact with a stop flange 9 at a side marginal portion-of the frame or plate I and extending laterally therefrom.

Riveted, as at III, or otherwise securely fastened to the frame or plate I at its transverse center and adjacent to its outer or larger end is a plate II. This plate II is disposed inwardly and radially of the frame or plate I and the inner or lower extremity thereof is formed to provide an offset cuttin blade I2. This blade I: has a beveled knife or cutting edge II disposedon such an angle to provide a penetrating point I5 and which point is disposed in a general direction toward the swinging lever I.

The frame or plate I in provided with an inwardly disposed ear I1 having a relatively large opening II in which is rotatably flxeda disk I9.

Freely extending through 2| extending out from a central portion of an operating handle or-key II. This tang extends tate together.

The handle or key 2| is at the side of the frame or 'l remote from the blade I! and outwardly of the lever 4 is maintained its central portion. below the blade I! is provided with an arcuate blade and in a direction toward theslotliisatang fixed to the tang 20 at the same side of the frame or plate I as the blade I2 is a traction wheel 22 which is adapted to have direct contact from below with the outer flange a of the conventional fold whereby the can lid 23 is clamped or sealed in place.

The apex portion of the frame or plate I is cut out, as at 24, and additional cut-outs 25 are provided in the opposite or larger end portion of the frame or plate I at opposite sides of the cutting blade I2. These cutouts are for the purpose of lightening the device and also to increase the esthetic value thereof.

The lower marginal portion of the cut-out 2! to the same side of the blade I2 as the lever i is deflnedby an outstandingguide flange 26 which is adapted to contact and travel along the top or chime of the can when the can opener is in use. This flange 26 immediately adjacent to the frame'or plate I is provided with an open slot 2'! to allow the lever 4 to have desired winging movement toward the blade I2 to assure the effective operation of the device.

It is to be further pointed out that the traction wheel 22 is so mounted on the lever 4 with respect to the blade I2 as to extend a distance inwardly of the point I! of the blade, so that when the requisite pressure is applied to the lever l as by ripping the hand grasps 2 and I by the digits of a hand, as the lever I swings inwardly the wheel 22 will-contact the outer flange of the fold of the lid and cause the point I of the blade l2 to penetrate the lid 23. After this initial penetration, it is only necessary that the handle or key 2I be rotated, whereupon the tractionwheel 22 will travel along the outer flange a and cause the device to travel around the can and cut or shear the lid 23, whereby the can lid or top can be easily and quickly removed without leaving rough or Ja ged edges.

When the device is applied to the can C, the headioftheshanklwillcontact the sideor peripheral wall of the can, as is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, and maintain said wall of the can and the frame or plate I in such anular relation to free the traction wheel 22 from rubbing contact with the peripheral surface of said wall of the can. This is of decided advantage particularly when the can is provided with .separation of the traction wheel 22, the traction wheel would have a tendency to tear or shred the label with a resultant objectionable hindrance to the effective operation of the opener.

As is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the handle or key 2I is provided with an elongated recess 28 of a form to provide a claw 29 whereby the handle or key 2| may be conveniently used as a bottle cap remover.

To facilitate the esthetic value of the device, the face of the frame or plate I at the same side of the blade I2 has produced thereon a suitable line 30 adjacent to the side of said plate or frame provided with the arm 2. This is to further insure the attractiveness of the device.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What I claim is: g

A can opener comprising a flat framehaving two remote edges, a cutting blade fixed to one side of the frame adjacent the transverse center of one edge and outwardly ollfset with respect to said side, said blade having a cutting edge formed to provide a point, a flxed arm carried by the frame and extending from the said ,one edge in the plane of the frame, the arm being disposed at one side of the cutting blade, a lever pivotally attached at one end to the frame adjacent the other edge and having its free end projecting beyond the said one edge of the frame, the lever being disposed upon the side, of the blade remote from the arm, and being oscillatable toward and away from the blade, the frame adjacent the cutting edge of the blade having an arcuate slot concentric with the pivot for the lever and extending to one side of the blade, a traction wheel rotatably supported on the lever for movement therewith relative to the point of the blade, and means coupled with said wheel 5 through said slot and positioned upon the side of the frame opposite from the slot, for facilitating turning of the wheel.

ROBERT H. WAILER. 

